Hydraulically actuated ironing machine



E. W. ROUCH HYDHAULICALLY ACTUATD IRON'ING MACHINE Aug. 20,1935.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1953 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 20, 1935. E. w. RoUcH 2,011,689

l HYDRAULICALLY CTUATEDv IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, V1953 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 'f1/5F57? h/ Roz/CH ATTORNEY.

Patented ug. 20, 1935 TES YHYDEAUliICALLY ACTUATED IRONING MACHINE Application January 14, 1933, serial Nol 651,761

10 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to hydraulically actuated ironing machines. l

Broadly the invention comprehends an ironing machine including a buck and ahead, means for moving the head into and from operativeposition including means for locking the head in operative position, and means for moving the buck toward the head including expansible means and fluid compression means for supplying uid under pressure to the expansible means. The invention also includes means for actuating the fluid compression means by movement of the head from operative position for creating an initial pressure in the expansible means' l In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there is shown a fluid compression means or master cylinder arranged within a reservoir and duplex means for actuating the piston of the compression means, one for automatically actuating the piston and the other for manually actuating l ically adjustable to compensate for variations in the thickness of fabrics upon which work is to be performed. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuating ironing machine including expansible means and uid compression means, the latter automatically actuated to create 'an initial pressure in the former.

A feature of the invention is a uid compression device including a reservoir, a cylinder arranged therein, a piston in the cylinder, and duplex means for actuating the piston, one for automatically actuating the piston and the other for manually actuating the piston.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,-

Figure l is a front elevation of an ironing machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an en d elevation of the ironing machine.

Figure .3 is a vertica1 sectional view of a fluidl compression device.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the uid compression device substantially on line 44, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the linkage connecting the fluid compression device to a toggle; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of one of the expansible means.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention, I0 represents corresponding upright members connected by side members I2 and end members I4, the whole providing a rigid support. The support has bolted or otherwise secured thereto a frame I8 having spaced rearward extended lugs I8 and spaced upward extended members 20.

Suitably secured to the frame is a top 22 slotted to receive the base of a buck 24. The base of the buck has suitably secured thereto pins 26 and 28 extending through openings in the frame, and sleeved on the pins 26 and 28, between the base of the buck and the frame, are springs 38 and 32 for yieldingly supporting the buck.

Pivotally connected to the upward extended members 28 are corresponding arms 34 and pivotallys connected to these arms is a head 36 adaptable for cooperation with the buck 24. The arms 34 have rearward extended lugs 38 connected by toggles 48 to a shaft 42 rotatably supported on the lugs I8 on the frame I6, and keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft is an arm 44.

The toggles 48 have notches 46 adjacent their pivotal connections to the lugs 38. These notches receive rearward extended ends of corresponding levers 48 pivotecl to the arms 34, and the forward en'ds of the levers 48 are connected by a rod which provi-des a suitable handle 50.

By raising the handle 58 the head may be elevated from its operative position so that work may be placed on the buck. After placing the work upon the buck, the handle 5,0 is lowered to move the hea-d into operative position where it is locked against displacement by the toggle 40.

The actuating means includes corresponding expansible elements or fluid pressure motors 52 and 54. These motors are identical except-that the motor 54 has a port controlled by a valve to be hereinafter described.v These motors are suitably attached to the frame. The motor 52 receives the pin 26 and the motor 54 receives the pin 28. As shown, each motor has a reciprocable piston 56 and each piston has a case-hardened insert 58 providing a seat for the pin 26 or 28 respectively. Each of the pistons also has a leakproof cu'p 60 held against the head of the piston by a spring 62 interposed between the cup and the head of the motor cylinder.

A fluid compression device 64 is secured to the frame I6. This device includes a reservoir $6 having a filling opening closed by a plug 68, a y drain opening closedby a plug and a ycover f plate 12. The reservoir has formed therein a CII.

cylinder 14 in the outer end of which is threaded l a head 16. The. head 16jhas formed thereon a nipple 18 extending concentrically within the cylinder, and the nipple has therein a check valve 80 connected by a pipe line or conduit 82 to a port l in-the head of the cylinder 52.

' spaced relation near the circumference there- A piston '84 is positioned for reciprocation in the cylinder 14. The piston fits the cylinder with .a small clearance sufcient to by-pass fluid or liquid onI the return or retraction stroke of the piston. [If preferred, the piston may be provided with a plurality of small openings arranged of. However, in actual-practice it has been found that satisfactory result is obtained by fitting 'the piston with a small clearance. The body of the piston has a circumferential groove 86, an axial bore 88 and radial ports 90 providing communication between the axial bore and the groove.

The piston also has an axial port 82 in its head providing a communication between the Aaxial .bore and the cylinder. The open end of the axial bore 88 is closed by a case-hardened insert 94,

I yand. a springV 96 seated on the insert urges a ball normal position.

valve 98 to close the port 82. A- collapsible leakproof cup |00 is on the head of the piston and a spring |02 interposed between the cup'and theA head of the cylinder serves to retain the cup in position as well as to return the piston' to its The reservoir has formed on its wall a. sleeve |04 communicating with the reservoir and the. sleeve has therein a valve cage |06 in which is .positioned a check valve y |08, controlling a I port providing a communication between the sleeve and the reservoir, and 'formed on the wall of the reservoirv within the reservoir is a stop ||0 the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The sleeve |04 is connectedby'a pipe line or conduit |.|2 to a check'valve ||4 controlling a port I6 in the Wall ofthe cylinder 54, and the head of the cylinderv 54 has a.` port connected as by a pipe line or conduit ||8 'to a port in the wall of the cylinder 52.

The vwall of the reservoirhas formed'thereon adjacent .the cover platev oppositely disposed bossesv |20 and |22.` -A shaft |24-is-rotatab1y mounted in the boss |20. This shaft has a cirgages and retains the piston 84. in the cylinder 14 The outer end of the shaft is serrated and secured on the serrations is'an operating handle A shaft |38 is rotatably mounted in the boss |22. lThe inner end of this shaft is axially bored to receive the reduced portion |28 onjthe shaft y |24. `The shaft |38 has a circumferential groove in whichis positioned a packing ring seated von a shoulder in the boss |22. The shaft |38 also has a circumferential groove for the reception of a clip |42 `for securing the shaft against displacement. The inner end of the shaft |38 has suitably secured thereto a lever |44. foi-'actuaonso v y ating the piston 84, and the outerfend 'of the shaft |38 has securedthereto an arm |46 connected by a-link |48vto the arm 44 on the shaft 42. The link |48 includes a yielding connection comprising a spring |52 interposed to carry the load, and a stop |'54'for adjusting the tension on the spring. The above describedcompression deviceis not claimed in the present application as it forms the subject'matter of my divisional application,v Serial yNumber 696,447, filed November 2, .1933.

Assuming that the fluid pressure system is filled with suitableliquid or uid, uponI moving the handle 50' to elevate the head 36 so that work may be placed on the buck 24, the toggles 40 are tripped by the levers 48. As the head is moved to the elevated position, the Shaft 42 is slightly rotated through the toggles 40, and hence thearm 44- secured-to the shaft 42 is movedthrough an angle.. This movement of the *armj 44 is transmitted to the arm |46 through the linkage connecting the arm 44 to the arm 46. When the head is in raised-position the center of gravity of lthe head is beyond the center of the pivotal connection of the arm 34 (supporting the head) to the upright 20 and the arm 34 abuts the upright 20 thus retainingthe head in elevated position.

Movement of the arm |46 rotates the shaft |38 resulting in moving the arm 44 through an angle The arm |44 engages and moves thepiston 84 to displace the fluid in the cylinder 14 through checkvalve 80 (which prevents retrograde movement of the fluid), and from thence through the pipe line or conduit 82 connecting the valve 88 to the 'cylinder 52'linto `cylinder 52, through cylinder 52 through pipeline ||8, connecting the cylinder. 52 to the cylinder 54 and into cylinder 54,pressure on the fluid in thel cylinders 52 and 54 and their connections being retained by the spring loaded valve |4. It is, of course, to be understood thatthe pressure in the cylinders 52 and 54 and their Vconnections is equal only t9 the load on the valve ||4. This pressure in the cylinders V52 and 54 takes-up anylost motion lbetween the pistons 56 of the respective cylinders 52 and 54 and the pins 28 and 28 on the base of the buck.

In manipulating the lhandle 50 to lower the head.36 into operative position, the toggles 40 straighten, and retain this position to lock the head against displacement.r Now, upon manipulating the handle |36 to actuate the piston 84, the varm |34. moves from the stop ||0 and releases the valve |08, Awhereupon the valvel |08.closes, and

this movement of the arm |34 applies force to the piston 84 to move the'piston in the cylinder .14

and displace the fluid therein through valve 80 (which prevents retrograde movement of the fluid), thence through the pipe line 82 connecting the valve 80 to the cylinder 52, into the cylinder 52,'through the cylinder 52 and pipe line ||8 connecting cylinder`52 'to cylinder 54, into the cylinder 54, and through the cylinder 54, thevalve I4 and pipe line or conduit ||2 against the valve |08, resulting in moving the buck to engage the head with sufiicient .pressure between the buck and the headto eiiiciently press the fabric therebetween.

When the piston 84 ismoved to displace the uid in the cylinder 14, the pressure is received on the valve 88 andthe cup |00, and when a predetermined. maximum pressure is reached the valve 98 trips izo-relieve the pressure and the excess .fluid in the cylinder 14 returns through the-piston and past the body thereof to-the reservoir. n l

As the piston-84 moves to its retractedposition,

the valve 80 closes and retains the uid in the system under pressure. This pressure is partlyrelieved when the head is raised and the arm |34 returns to its normal position on the stop and is reached, the spring-pressed valve H4 closes.4 The buck 24 is returned to its normal raised posi-,

tion by the4 springs 30 and 32 when the valve |08 is tripped and this movement of the buck relieves the pressure on the pistons 5B resulting in further release of pressure in the system.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specic embodiments, the

principles involved are susceptible of numerousv atively movable ironing elements, expansible l means for creating an ironing pressure between the elements, compressionmeans for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible means and means for creating an initial pressure in the com pression means operable by movement. of one of the ironing elements.

2. An ironing machine comprising a head, means for locking the head'in operative position, a movable buck adaptable for cooperation with the head, expansible means for moving the buckv to create an ironing pressure between the head and the buck, and a compression means for supplying uid under pressure to the expansible means including means operable by movement of the head from operative position for creating an initial pressure in the'expansible means.

3. An ironing machine comprising a head,

means for locking the head in a rigid position, a.`

movable fbuck cooperating with the head, expansiblemeans for 'inoving the buck to create an ironing pressure-between the head and the buck, a compression meansV for supplying uid under pressure to the expansible means, means operated by movement of the head forV actuating the compression means to create an initial pressure in -the expansible means, and manually operative means for actuating the compression means.

4. An ironing machine comprising a movable head, means for locking the head in operative position, a movable buck cooperating with the head, expansible means for moving the buck toward the head, a compression means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible means, means for actuating the compression means operable by movement of the head from the buck, and

manually operated means for actuating the 'compression means.

5. An ironing machine comprising relatively movable ironing elements, hydraulic means including a compressor, expansible elements connected to thecompressor and to one of the ironing elements for actuating the same, manually operated means for actuating the compressor, manually operated means for actuating the other ironing element and means for actuating the compressor operable by the manual means for actuating the ironing element.

6. An ironing machine comprising relatively movable ironing elements, expansible elements for actuating one of the ironing elements, a compressor for actuating the expansible elements, manually operated means for actuating the compressor, and means for actuating the compressor operable by movement of the other ironing element.

7. An ironing machine comprising a head, a buckadaptable for cooperation therewith, members supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, fluid pressure motors for moving the buck, a-fluid compressor for actuating the motors, and linkage connecting the compressor to the members supporting the head for actuating the compressor upon movement of the head from operative position.

8. An ironing machine comprising a head, a buck adaptable for cooperation therewith, members supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, manually operable means for movingv the members, uid pressure motors for moving the buck, a iiuid compressor for actuating the motors, manually operable means for actuating 'the compressor, and linkage connecting the compressor to the members for actuating the compressor upon movement of the head from operative position. X

, 9. An ironing machine comprising a head, a buck adaptable for cooperation therewith, members supporting the head forA movement into and from operative position including a handle for moving the members, uid pressure motors for moving the buck,- a. iiuid compressor for actuating the motors, a leverlfor actuating the compressor, and linkage connecting the compressor to the members for actuating the compressor upon movement ofthe head from operative position. Y

10. An ironing machine comprising a head, a buck adaptable for cooperation therewith, arms supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, toggles for locking the head in operative position, iiuid pressure motors for moving the buck, a fluid compressor for actuating the motors, a hand operated lever for actuating the compressor, and linkage connecting the compressor to the toggles for actuating the compressor upon movement of the'head from operative position.`

EVEREI'I' W. ROUGH. 

